PS3 Netflix adds movie searching, may lose discs by October

The PlayStation 3 version of the Netflix Watch Instantly service saw a major improvement this morning with the added ability to search for new movies. One of the application's biggest current hurdles may be gone in a matter of months as the company's CEO plans to launch a disc-free version of the PS3 software by October.

Movie fans who fired up their PlayStation 3 to stream movies from Netflix were greeted with a pleasant surprise this morning, as the much-lauded predictive search function present on the movie rental company's website has come to the PlayStation 3, making it the first console to allow the addition of movies to your queue through means other than the recommendation lists. The function is due to be incorporated onto the Xbox 360 by November.

The PlayStation 3's Netflix Instant Watch application might actually have a brief run as the most convenient and functional version if Netflix CEO Reed Hastings' hopes of launching a disc-free PS3 application in the next few months are realized. Hastings hopes that by October the company can "expect to be launching a major new version of our Sony PS3 user interface which doesn't require a disc, and is dynamically updated continuously with the latest Netflix UI improvements."

To continue reading, register here and become an Insider. You'll get free access to premium content from CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld, and Network World. See more Insider content or sign in.

The PlayStation 3 version of the Netflix Watch Instantly service saw a major improvement this morning with the added ability to search for new movies. One of the application's biggest current hurdles may be gone in a matter of months as the company's CEO plans to launch a disc-free version of the PS3 software by October.

Movie fans who fired up their PlayStation 3 to stream movies from Netflix were greeted with a pleasant surprise this morning, as the much-lauded predictive search function present on the movie rental company's website has come to the PlayStation 3, making it the first console to allow the addition of movies to your queue through means other than the recommendation lists. The function is due to be incorporated onto the Xbox 360 by November.

The PlayStation 3's Netflix Instant Watch application might actually have a brief run as the most convenient and functional version if Netflix CEO Reed Hastings' hopes of launching a disc-free PS3 application in the next few months are realized. Hastings hopes that by October the company can "expect to be launching a major new version of our Sony PS3 user interface which doesn't require a disc, and is dynamically updated continuously with the latest Netflix UI improvements."

Netflix streamers -- which version do you currently use? Will these latest developments affect your choice?

SOURCES: Netflix CEO Discusses Hulu Plus, Disc-Free PS3 Version [Gamasutra]PS3 Netflix adds search option [Joystiq]